Infection Preventionist jobs in the United States

Develops, coordinates, implements, maintains, and supervises Infection Control program to prevent and/or control infection among patients and employees and to comply with requirements from Center for Disease Control (CDC), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Department of Public Health (DPH).

Essential Job Functions:

• Under the guidance of the Director of Quality, the Infection Preventionist is responsible for the management of surveillance, prevention and control of infection. All findings are reported to the Director of Quality
• Maintains an effective surveillance system by monitoring patient admissions, lab reports, and multi-departmental QA studies.
• Responsible for reviewing all department IC policies/procedures in order to ensure a safe work environment for all
• Identifies and communicates prevention measures regarding infection control (IC) issues by presenting new products to the infection control committee that will reduce injury and the transmission of microorganisms.
• Chairs infection control meeting every other month and maintain minutes and action items to ensure closed loop communication.
• Identifies the most important aspects of care by focusing, monitoring, and evaluating on high-risk (i.e., peripheral and central IV catheters when indicated).
• Evaluates and identifies problem-prone areas in order to maintain a high quality of care.
• Evaluates and identifies activities that may impact quality of care.
• Monitors knowledge and aspects of care related to standard universal precautions (blood borne/airborne).
• Reviews patient admissions for incoming information and computer census report to identify patients with community-acquired diseases.
• Communicates information and ensures proper IC measures are in place when indicated.
• Follows placement of infected patients for prevention and control of infection. Observes, as needed, the proper placement of pre-/post op patients to prevent exposure to another patient with a draining wound
• Monitors HIV, multi-resistant pathogens, immunosuppressed, and burn patient placement as required.
• Monitors patients with respiratory infection (i.e., TB), as needed.
• Follows all positive microbiology and serology reports and notes all positive culture reports for possible infection in patients and employees in accordance with the recommendation of the IC committee.
• Compiles culture reports for chart review.
• Reports resistant organisms to patient care areas when private room is needed.
• Identifies potential risk for exposure to an employee or another patient.
• Receives information via telephone from the lab and institutes immediate action/reporting in order to provide appropriate IC measures.
• Qualitative review of patient records for nosocomial infections is ongoing during patient admission.
• Monitors antibiotic usage, length of time, and dosage and, if appropriate, covers microorganism sensitivity, as requested.
• Identifies trends, resistance patterns, and clusters of infection with the same microorganism when indicated
• Responsible for the IC policy and procedure review and revisions. Updates policy and procedures in order to meet current standards and regulations of practice every two years and as needed.
• Meets OSHA, CDC and state/local DPH standards and requirements as changes occur.
• Operates assigned equipment and performs all procedures in a safe manner.
• Maintains work area and equipment in condition required by department standards.
• Maintains confidentiality of all hospital and patient information at all times. Follows HIPAA regulations and policies.
• Regular and predictable attendance is an essential job function.
Communicate with patients, families and co-workers in person, in writing and on telephone.

Required Qualifications:

• MLT , MLS or Registered Nurse

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two years’ experience working with infection control methods; preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field of science; preferred
APIC required within a 2 year time frame

Joint Position, Full time, 40 hours per week

SMH is EOE